(Kulli) Black Incan Corn

Over 2700 years ago the Incans had already started building their empire in Peru. Archeologists now believe that corn and llamas were basis of the Incans surge to power. Although thousands of forms of corn exist in the Peruvian Andes some forms have a very noble and well known history. The so called Kulli or Kculli Strains of purple or black corn are ancient and have been used perhaps for thousands of years. Kulli corn is almost jet black to the eye, it is so rich in anthocyanins that when cobs and kernels are soaked in water, (like they have been since antiquity by the Peruvians), they turn the water a deep purple. This drink is famous in Peru and is called Chicha (it’s flavored with other yummy ingredients too!). Joe is super proud to have a limited quantity of this amazing corn. It is from the high Andes, which are “tropical” hence it probably will need a long ..long growing season, circa 150-180 days, but if it sets cobs it will amaze you with it’s beauty. And it is not only beautiful it is a nutritious!

When I read the description before ordering, I did make mental note of the words “but if it sets cobs”. The word “if” should be upper case, italicized and in bold font, perhaps colored red. Big -=IF=- for setting cobs. I had about a 60% germination rate - some of the seeds looked good and were plump, but half of them were very puny looking. Those puny ones had about a 20% germination rate and produced stunted plants. Of those that sprouted from the plump kernels, once they hit about 4 feet, they really took offgrowing very fast and reached 10 feet in an very short time. My wife and I enjoyed looking out every morning to see the extra few inches the tallest stalks added each day. A number of the stalks have lodged (fallen over) even though we have had almost no wind to speak of. Sadly, the tassels are mostly spent, with no ears for their pollen to fall on. I'm in the East Texas Gulf Plain just N of Houston, definitely not the Andes mountains. Fun experiment that failed.

SUCCESS in Portland! Well, the ears aren't ready for harvest yet, but they are forming. And yes, I hand-pollinated. I use a blog as my garden diary, so if anyone wants to see the timeline and photos of how I made this happen, click here: http://jesiesgardenfarm.weebly.com/blog/knee-high-by-the-4th-of-july-kulli-corn-experiment

My daughter bought a pack of seeds from Baker Creek Seed Store. She planted them in our green house in March during her spring break from college. I found the tray of tiny corn plants with no ID. When she told me they were Kulli Black I told her that they would never make it....needs 150 to 180 day growing season. But, at her urging, I transplanted them into the garden. About 5 to 6 months later, after watching the gigantic 15 foot tall corn tower above the roof of our home, we harvested several beautiful ears of the shiny black corn. Once again, Dad was proven wrong by Daughter. This proves it can be grown right here in Missouri. Plants had good anchor roots but we had to stake anyway.....they were 15 ft tall! Had to use a step ladder to harvest some ears. Time of flowering was a little off-set with silking but we expected that and had to help a little with some hand-pollinating. It was a fun challenge. I encourage everyone north of Missouri to see if they can get a crop!